There are 2 types of autoimmune hepatitis: type 1 (classic) or type 2.

Type 1 (classic)

Is the most common form of the disease

May occur at any age but usually starts when you are a teen or young adult

Affects women more than men

Is often linked to other diseases where the body attacks itself (autoimmune disorders).
These may include thyroiditis, Grave's disease, type 1 diabetes, and ulcerative colitis.

Type 2

Is less common

Most often affects girls between ages 2 and 14

The liver is a large organ that sits up under your ribs on the right side of your
belly (abdomen). It helps filter waste from your body, makes bile to help digest food,
and stores sugar that your body uses for energy.

What causes autoimmune hepatitis?

Experts don’t know what causes autoimmune hepatitis.

It is linked to a disorder called hypergammaglobulinemia. This disorder occurs when
you have too many protein antibodies in your blood. It may be caused by a long-term
(chronic) infection or certain blood diseases.

Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis is linked to other disorders where the body attacks itself
(autoimmune disorders). These may include:

Thyroiditis

Grave's disease

Type 1 diabetes

Hemolytic anemia

Immune thrombocytopenia

Celiac disease

Ulcerative colitis

What are the symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis?

Each person’s symptoms may vary. Some of the most common symptoms may include:

Extreme tiredness (fatigue)

Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

Belly (abdominal) pain

Joint pain or swelling

Mild flu-like symptoms

Itching

Large abdomen due to large liver and spleen

Spiderlike blood vessels in the skin

Other autoimmune hepatitis symptoms may include:

Dark urine

Pale or gray-colored stools

Women stop having menstrual periods

Loss of appetite

Fluid buildup in the belly (ascites)

Confusion

Rectal bleeding or vomiting blood

The symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis may look like other health problems. Always see
your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How is autoimmune hepatitis diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will look at your health history and give you a physical
exam.

Some lab blood tests used to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis include:

Liver function tests. These check for any redness and swelling (inflammation) or damage to your liver.

Complete blood count or CBC. Looks at the number and types of cells in your blood.

Coagulation panel. This test looks at how well the clotting proteins are working.

Electrolyte panel. Checks to see if you have too many or too few minerals (electrolyte imbalance) in
your blood.

Autoimmune antibodies. These are used to see if you have autoimmune hepatitis or another liver disease with
similar symptoms.

Other liver tests. These are done to check for other possible types of liver disease.

Tests for other chemicals in your body.

You may also have imaging tests such as:

CT scan. This is more detailed than a standard X-ray. It can show detailed images of any part
of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. It uses both X-rays and
computer technology to make horizontal images (often called slices) of the body.

MRI. This test makes detailed pictures of organs and structures inside your body. It uses
a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy. A dye may be shot or injected into
your vein. The dye helps the liver and other organs in the belly to be seen more clearly
on the scan.

Ultrasound. This uses high frequency sound waves to create a picture of the organs. It can also
check blood flow in blood vessels.

Liver biopsy. Small tissue samples are taken from your liver with a needle. These samples are checked
under a microscope to find out the type of liver disease you have.

How is autoimmune hepatitis treated?

Treatment works best when autoimmune hepatitis is found early. The goal of treatment
is to control the disease and to reduce or get rid of any symptoms (be in remission).

To do this, medicines (corticosteroids and immune system suppressors) are used to
help slow down or suppress your overactive immune system. They also stop your body
from attacking your liver.

Once you have started treatment, it can take 6 months to a few years for the disease
to go into remission. Some people can stop taking medicine, but often the disease
comes back. You may need treatment now and then for the rest of your life. Some people
need to remain on treatment if they have relapsed many times or if their disease is
severe.

In some cases autoimmune hepatitis may go away without taking any medicines. But for
most people, autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic disease.

It can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). The liver can become so badly damaged
that it no longer works. This is called liver failure.

If you have liver failure, a liver transplant may be needed.

Be sure to ask your healthcare provider about recommended vaccines. These include
vaccines for viruses that can cause liver disease.